5 Hours, No Food, No Exit ： Int’l Airlines Passengers Stranded

Source: OT-Team(G)，南方都市报; 红星新闻

  Emirates passengers were left stranded for 5 hours at Shenzhen Airport with no food, no drinks, and no way off the plane.

On April 10, a social media post drew widespread attention after claiming that Emirates flight EK382 made an emergency landing at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport and passengers were left on board for five hours without food, drinks, or permission to disembark.

According to the post, the flight, originally scheduled to depart from Dubai International Airport at 3:15 a.m. local time on April 10, was diverted mid-journey and made an unscheduled stop in Shenzhen. The passenger, who shared the experience on behalf of their elderly parents, stated that during the five-hour wait, no meals or beverages were provided, and passengers were not allowed to leave the aircraft.

The user expressed particular concern about the health of older passengers, noting that one parent suffers from high blood pressure. "I wonder if Shenzhen Airport, customs, or other authorities could have handled the situation more flexibly, allowing children and elderly passengers with valid entry documents to disembark and enter Shenzhen," the post read.

In response to media inquiries on April 11, staff at both Shenzhen Bao'an Airport and Hong Kong International Airport clarified that disembarkation from an international flight making an emergency landing typically involves immigration procedures that fall outside the authority of airport staff.

"International diversions involve immigration matters, and it's up to the airline to coordinate," a representative from Shenzhen Bao'an Airport said. "The airport only handles ground services; decisions regarding entry are up to immigration and customs authorities."

Hong Kong International Airport staff confirmed that EK382 had landed safely in Hong Kong on April 11 and said the diversion to Shenzhen was due to weather conditions. "Passengers generally cannot disembark during such unscheduled stops because it would involve immigration processing," the staff explained.

Emirates also responded to reporters, confirming that the flight had been diverted due to weather and that decisions about whether passengers can deplane during such diversions are made by local immigration authorities, not the airline.

"If there are concerns or requests for compensation, passengers can submit a form via our official website," an Emirates representative added. "Follow-up support will be provided."